Analysis and distribution of tocopherols and quinones in the pea plant.

A procedure is described and evaluated for the analysis of ubiquinone, plastoquinone, tocopherols and vitamin K(1) in Pisum sativum L. Vitamin K(1) appears to be absent from the roots of this plant. While the pea seed contains only gamma-tocopherol, the root and shoot contain only alpha-tocopherol. During the greening of etiolated tissue, plastoquinone and vitamin K(1) levels increase markedly while ubiquinone and alpha-tocopherol levels are unaffected. On homogenization or damage to tissue, considerable losses of alpha-tocopherol occur in the pea plant.